"How can you stand me hanging around you?"
Luke looked up at him in confusion.
"Huh?"
"Luke, I, the day you were bashed, I mean, I just stood there and watched! I didn't even try to help!"
"Zac -"
"I mean, what kind of friend am I? I should have tried to stop them, but oh no, I had to stand there and watch and did nothing but think about myself. I may as well as hit you myself."
Luke was silent for a moment.
"You know something? I have been thinking the same thing."
Zac stared.
"But you know something else Zac? You didn't hit me. And you got me to the hospital when it was all over."
"But that's -" Zac began.
"Actually, I used to be friends with some of those guys. I think that's what hurts the most." Luke went on. "But when I told you I was gay, I mean, you haven't treated me differently."
"Well, no, but -"
"Look, Zac, we were seriously outnumbered. If you had tried to stop them, you would have been bashed too probably."
"That shouldn't -"
"Zac, I, no hard feelings ok?" Luke said, cutting him off again. "It's ok. It's in the past. It doesn't matter any more. Forget it."
Zac opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again:
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"For - never mind."
Luke grinned.
"So, wanna go play Mario Kart?"
"Mario Kart?" Zac repeated. "Do you really think I'm that bored?"
"Yes."
"Well, when you're right, you're right." He grinned.